Mid West coastal towns react to early days of demersal fishing ban, plan for a drop in tourism numbers

Small businesses in the Mid West are bracing for a potential drop in tourism numbers as the flow-on effects of the ban on demersal fishing continue to unravel. The ban came into force from January 1 and prevents recreational fishing of species like pink snapper and dhufish until spring 2027. For commercial fishers the ban is permanent. The new rules span from Augusta, north to Kalbarri. Shire of Irwin president Isabelle Scott is concerned that fishers will bypass the area. “The ban creates like an uneven tourism landscape along the coast,” she said. “Because clearly, people can go up to Kalbarri and beyond and continue fishing and so that will, I would assume, encourage potential holiday-makers to reconsider their holiday in Dongara and Port Denison.” She said that while it was impossible to predict what the exact impact would be, local hospitality and accommodation providers had expressed concern the ban would affect the local economy. “As local government, we do share the community concern about potential long-term impacts, particularly on our reputation as a holiday destination and on our local economy,” Cr Scott said, adding that the shire plans to promote other boons to holiday-makers, such as crayfishing and family friendly beaches. The ban, which was first announced on December 3, has also not included a grace period for fishers, with infringements for breaking the rules being issued from the start. Compliance measures include upgraded signage, electronic monitoring, and physical inspections of vessels. A State Government spokesperson said the maximum fine for a first offence was $5000 for recreational fishers, plus a mandatory penalty equal to 10 times the value of the fish taken. Subsequent offences could result in maximum fines of $10,000 for individuals, in addition to the mandatory penalty. RecFishWest has provided information for prospective fishers on how they can still maintain their hobby over the next year. “Like many fishers we agree that there is a problem with dhufish and that dhufish fishing is a shadow of what it used to be 10-20 years ago,” the organisation states on its website. “While we did not support an extended closure outside peak dhufish spawning periods, the fish must come first.“ The organisation supports additional government measures during the ban, such as a discount on fishing licences. In the meantime, small business owners in coastal towns are concerned about the financial implications of recreational demersal fishers turning their sights further north. Southerlys Tavern in Port Denison offers a varied menu that makes sure to highlight local produce. Co-owner Sonia Kerr said they would be limited in promoting regional offerings. “You’ve only got to drive down to the beach . . . just to see how empty the boat ramp is and and therefore, if that’s empty, I guess it’s the flow-on effect,” she said. “You don’t have 10 people coming, they don’t pay for accommodation, they don’t buy supplies, they don’t buy fuel.” While Ms Kerr agrees that sustainability is important, she is concerned about the human cost of the ban. “Obviously, supply and demand will drive the prices up for what West Australian fish we can get,” she said. “We’ve already seen that with our Shark Bay whiting. Further south in Jurien Bay, Seasport Tackle Jurien Bay owner Shane Younger agreed the recreational ban would have an impact on more than just the fishers. “I spoke to quite a few businesses in Jurien Bay, and they all say it’s a lot quieter than normal,” he said. “Everyone’s seeing the difference this year has already made, just from the fishermen.” He believes that sales have dropped for a range of businesses along the WA coast, and that his business has taken a significant financial hit from the sudden announcement of the ban. “I normally buy (in) July, August, to get through summer, through to Easter. And we’ve spent over $100,000 on gear for demersal fishing, because Jurien Bay is a demersal destination,” Mr Younger said. “I’ve got all that stock sitting there, and we’ve found that it’s just dried up.” He encouraged West Australians to make efforts to shop from locally owned businesses. “There’s a lot of businesses from Kalbarri to Augusta which are really going to be hurting, mine included,” he said. “You don’t need to go online and buy from big tackle shops on the east coast, because we can do the same pricing. It’s really a call-out to everyone to stick together for WA.” Cr Scott agreed that there was an opportunity to promote Dongara as a family friendly destination outside of demersal fishing. “We believe that Dongara is one of the best kept secrets of the Mid West,” she said. The WA fishing community has had a strong reaction to the ban, with a Save WA’s Fisheries petition to WA Parliament, spearheaded by Geraldton fisher Anthony Haygarth, reaching more than 21,000 signatures at time of print. The petition expresses concerns about current fishery management and urges the Upper House to commit to ongoing consultation with fishers. In a stronger expression of discontent, at the end of December three men were charged with dumping shark heads outside Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis’ office in Margaret River.